Unrest in 1986

The chaos of Labor Day 1986's OP Pro Surf Contest, in which 12 people were injured, inspired leaders to take precautions in future events. Since then, surf contests have not been held on Labor Day weekend, and alcohol is not allowed. Security has also been heightened, with increased police presence.

How to help

Huntington Beach police officials are looking through social media to identify anyone involved in last night's disturbance after the U.S. Open. If you have photos or video we ask that you please send them to HBPDFiles@gmail.com or call our hotline at 714 375-5066.

HUNTINGTON BEACH – As police broke out riot gear, rubber ammunition and pepper-ball rounds to control an unruly crowd Sunday night after the close of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing, longtime residents shared one thought:

Here we go again.

Over the past few years, many residents have worried about a repeat of the infamous Op Pro riot in 1986, when MTV brought a rowdy crowd to the Labor Day weekend festivities. In the 1990s, out-of-control crowds during Fourth of July celebrations also clashed with police, inspiring the city to enact a zero-tolerance policy in 1996.

On Sunday, no cars were burned and police had the streets under control in about two hours. Still, the damage to city property and local businesses left locals and the surf community fed up with the large crowds of revelers looking for a fight.

City responds

Huntington Beach police arrested eight people Sunday night on suspicion of failing to disperse in what was declared an unlawful assembly. One person was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer, who was trying to break up a fight, Lt. Mitch O'Brien said. The crowd was under control by 9 p.m., and several officers had minor injuries, he said. One person was also treated for minor injuries after being hit by a rubber projectile, he added.

Detectives and other staff combed social media Monday to identify other potential suspects, he added.

"We're getting a ton of information," he said. "We're working very hard to identify anyone who did damage to property in downtown Huntington Beach."

Police do not have an estimate of the damage, but O'Brien said it would be in the thousands.

In response to Sunday night's disturbance, city officials Monday afternoon were scheduled to announce a special meeting to begin addressing continuing issues.

Several thousand gather

After the contest ended Sunday afternoon, several thousand people began to move toward Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway, and by 7:15 p.m. officers were called to a large fight, O'Brien said.

For about two hours, 102 Huntington Beach officers with the help of 148 more from agencies around Orange County tried to break up the crowd, using a skirmish line of officers to move the crowd and shooting 40-millimeter rubber projectiles and pepper-ball rounds, he said.

Portable toilets were overturned, and the crowd damaged six city vehicles as well as street signs and newspaper racks in the melee, O'Brien said. Around 8:15 p.m., the chaos moved back toward Orange Avenue. Bert Etheredge, a part-time employee of Easyrider bike shop, helped move other employees and customers to the back of the shop, locked the door and turned off the lights.

"All of a sudden, we saw the mob of people turn," he said. "It was as if they were running from a tidal wave and trying to get out of it."

A group began shaking a stop sign at the corner and finally uprooted it, said Etheredge, 39.

A window broken at the Easyrider bike shop on Main Street in Huntington Beach is boarded up as of Monday morning. JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Newspaper vending boxes were damaged overnight when a wild crowd took to Main Street in Huntington Beach Sunday night after the U.S. Open of Surfing. JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Following a disturbance, police officers form a skirmish line on Main Street south of Orange Avenue Sunday night. RICHARD KOEHLER, FOR THE REGISTER
A crowd lingers on Main Street at Orange Avenue in Huntington Beach Sunday night. RICHARD KOEHLER, FOR THE REGISTER
Following a disturbance, police officers form a skirmish line on Main Street south of Orange Avenue in Huntington Beach Sunday evening. RICHARD KOEHLER, FOR THE REGISTER
Police head south down Olive Avenue toward 5th Street in Huntington Beach to quell disturbances following the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing event on Sunday. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A line of police officers march up MaIn Street in Huntington Beach Sunday evening. RICHARD KOEHLER, FOR THE REGISTER
Police officers in riot gear occupy Main Street near Orange Avenue and disperse a crowd Sunday evening. RICHARD KOEHLER, FOR THE REGISTER
Police tell the crowd of onlookers to head west on Olive Avenue near 5th Street in Huntington Beach on Sunday. A stop sign was thrown through a window at the Easyrider bike shop and the shop was looted. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A crowd broke a window at Easyrider bike shop at Main Street and Orange Avenue Sunday night, and one person stole a bike. THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, MORGAN COOK,
Bert Etheredge recounts the events of Sunday night at Easyrider bike shop on Main Street in Huntington Beach. Etheredge was working at the bike shop Sunday night when rioters smashed through one of the front window and began to loot bikes. One got away, but he managed to wrestle a $5,000 beach cruiser away from one looter. The video, shot by a witness with a cell phone, has gone viral.JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Bert Etheredge, left, gets a hug from co-worker Justin Roberts as he walks into work at Easyrider bike shop on Main Street in Huntington Beach Monday. Etheredge was working at the bike shop Sunday night when rioters smashed through one of the front window and began to loot bikes. One got away, but he managed to wrestle a $5,000 beach cruiser away from one looter. The video, shot by a witness with a cell phone, has gone viral. JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A worker takes the measurements to replace a window at Easyrider bike shop on Main Street in Huntington Beach Monday morning. On Sunday night rioters smashed the window and stole one bike before good samaritans and store employees forced the crowd to back away from the storefront.

JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Huntington Beach councilman Jim Katapodis hosts an early morning press conference in front of Easyrider bike shop on Main Street in Huntington Beach Monday. Sunday night rioters smashed the window and stole one bike before good samaritans and store employees forced the crowd to back away from the storefront. JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Bert Etheredge, left, gets a warm welcome from Easyrider bike shop owner Jason Hilbert Monday morning. Etheredge was working at the bike shop Sunday night when rioters smashed through one of the front window and began to loot bikes. One got away, but he managed to wrestle a $5,000 beach cruiser away from one looter. The video, shot by a witness with a cell phone, has gone viral. JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Crews begin to deconstruct temporary stores and bleachers erected for the 2013 US Open of Surfing Monday morning in Huntington Beach.

JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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